Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for X-Men ’97, episode 9

X-Men ’97 is currently in the middle of its three-part season finale, featuring an epic reckoning between mutantkind and humanity that’s full of epic Easter eggs and references. As seen in X-Men ’97 episode 9, Charles Xavier has finally returned to Earth just as Magneto has given up his honest attempt at working toward coexistence. In the face of humanity’s violent intolerance, Magneto has had enough, forcing the X-Men to try and stop both his war against humanity while also going after Bastion and his mutant-killing Prime Sentinels.

Splitting up into teams, X-Men ’97 episode 9 has twice the action as the mutant heroes fight on multiple fronts. Mirroring the classic Fatal Attractions storyline from the original comics by Marvel, there are plenty of epic and brutal nods throughout the second chapter of the season finale. To that end, here are 16 of the biggest Easter eggs and references in X-Men ’97 episode 9.

16. Storm’s Black Costume In Opening Credits

Her Title Cards Been Changed

In the opening credits of X-Men “97, Storm has returned to the X-Men’s roster with her own title card. However, it has since been altered to reflect Storm’s new black costume she received after regaining her powers in X-Men ’97 episode 6. To that end, it’s rather fitting that her title card is back now that she officially rejoins the X-Men in this new episode alongside X-Factor’s Forge who helped her reclaim her mutant gifts.

15. Professor Xavier’s Back Opening Credits

Signaling His Return To The X-Men

Charles Xavier’s title card also returns for the first time in X-Men ’97. While presumed dead on Earth, Xavier was actually with the Shi’ar Empire before he psychically felt the tragic Fall of Genosha and the death of Gambit. As such, Professor Xavier was seen crashlanding at the X-Mansion at the end of X-Men ’97 episode 8, finally returning home to summon his X-Men to his side once more.

14. Magneto Returns To His Classic Costume

And His Iconic Helmet

Having escaped the clutch of Bastion and Mister Sinister in the previous episode, Magneto unleashed a massive EMP across the planet, knocking out all major electronic systems, a declaration of war against humanity. As such, the beginning of this new episode sees Magneto wearing his classic red and purple costume, complete with his iconic helmet he’d yet to wear throughout the course of X-Men ’97. However, humanity’s refusal to simply coexist with mutants has seemingly forced Magento’s hand, reverting him to the mutant he once was who’s now ready to fight and kill for mutantkind’s right to exist and live freely.

13. Blue And Gold

Classic X-Men 90s Teams

Formulating a plan to save the world, it was determined that defeating Bastion and his Prime Sentinels could convince Magneto to end his globally devastating EMP. As such, Cyclops splits the X-Men into Blue and Gold teams, a reference to the classic teams that were formed on the page in the 90s. Led by Cyclops, Blue Team is comprised of Xavier, Wolverine, Jubilee, and Nightcrawler who travel to Asteroid M to confront Magneto. Meanwhile, Storm and Jean lead Gold Team which features Beast, Cable, Forge, and Morph.

12. Asteroid M

Resurrected By Magneto

Magneto follows up his brutal EMP with the resurrection of Asteroid M in X-Men ’97 episode 9. A floating fortress held in Earth’s orbit, the Master of Magnetism created Asteroid M as a sanctuary to humanity in the original animated series before it was compromised by Fabian Cortez and the Acolytes. Bringing the iconic X-Men location back, it seems Magneto is offering the same to mutants once more, while also using the asteroid as a staging ground for his war against humanity.

11. Magneto Confirms Leech’s Death

“Because He Believed In Me”

Offering the X-Men the chance to join him, Magneto confirms what happened to Leech who was last seen holding onto him when the Wild Sentinel was attacking Genosha in X-Men ’97 episode 5. While Magneto survived and was kidnapped by Bastion, he apparently saw Leech’s brutal demise all the same, tragically revealing that the young Morlock was vaporized while he still fearfully believed that Magento would save him. As such, it seems quite doubtful that Magneto will ever attempt to coexist with humans ever again after Genosha.

10. Rogue Joins Magneto

Replacing Colossus In Fatal Attractions

Tried of all the death and still grieving over the death of Gambit, Rogue effectively replaces Colossus and his Fatal Attractions arc. In the comics’ crossover, Colossus joins Magneto and the Acolytes following the death of his sister Illyana aka Magik, having become disillusioned by Xavier’s dream. Now, Rogue is joining Magneto following the death of Remy Lebeau, and the circumstances seen in the comics are mirrored quite well in X-Men ’97 ‘s three-part finale (such as Magneto’s global EMP).

9. Magneto Protocols

Fatal Attractions

In the same vein, Fatal Attractions receives another nod during Xavier’s mental conversation with President Robert Kelly. While Kelly wants to initiate the “Magneto Protocols”, Xavier requests more time for the X-Men to come up with a more diplomatic solution. On the page, the “Magneto Protocols” were a series of satellites that were built to negate Magneto’s powers on Earth, an act he saw as a provocation in Fatal Attractions, leading to his global EMP in the original comics.

8. OG Comics X-Men Suits

Looking Stylish

X-Men ’97 episode 9 features an iconic sequence where the team suits up in their original, more classic costumes. This includes Jean’s green costume and yellow eye mask, Storm’s recently acquired black costume, Cyclops’ full blue hood covering his hair, and Wolverine’s brown and yellow suit. As such, it’s a very exciting and new look for the team, especially where the animated X-Men universe is concerned.

7. X-Men 2000s Reference

“What’d You Expect, Black Leather?”

Giving his adult son from the future his own X-Men uniform, Cyclops is asked by Cable if he’s preparing for war or going to a circus. Cyclops responds by asking if he expected black leather, a brilliant reversal of the gag from 2000’s live-action X-Men movie. When Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine is less than impressed by their black leather uniforms, James Marsden’s Cyclops asks if he’d have preferred “yellow spandex” instead.

6. Morph Transforms Into The Incredible Hulk

“Morph Smash!”

Facing Bastion’s legions of Sentinels on his island headquarters, Morph surprises everyone by transforming into none other than the Incredible Hulk. Not only does this further confirm the Hulk’s existence in the overarching Marvel animated universe, but it’s absolutely epic seeing the Hulk smash Sentinels to bits, even if it is just Morph. It’s also quite exciting to see “Morph Hulk” essentially become a living wrecking back thanks to Jean Grey who uses her telekinetic powers to send him flying across the battlefield.

5. DeMayo’s Diner

With James Bond and Kingsman 2 Nods?

At one point, Morph Hulk smashes a sign with the name DeMayo’s Diner, a reference to X-Men ’97 director and head writer Beau DeMayo. DeMayo also confirmed on Twitter that Bastion’s volcano island headquarters are inspired by James Bond villains, while its location in the Galapagos is likely a reference to Charles Darwin who was a contemporary of Mister Sinister. However, the 1950s diner, shops, and bowling alley in the center of the island feel very much like a reference to the villain Poppy Adams and her extremely similar headquarters as seen in Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

4. Wild Sentinel Throne

Magneto’s Revenge

Once Blue Team makes it to Asteroid M, they quickly find Magneto sitting on a throne he fashioned out of the Wild Sentinel’s remains. Having decimated Genosha before it was destroyed by Gambit, the mutant-killing robot being forged into Magneto’s very own throne is quite a savage move. Additionally, it certainly is a brutal sign that Magneto is done playing games and that the gloves are coming off.

3. “Writhing Thing of Chance”

Mister Sinister Corrupts Cable

Following Jean’s battle with Mister Sinister, the truly evil villain takes note that his “writhing thing of chance” has arrived, the name he called Nathan Summers’ Cable as a baby when he experimented on him in X-Men ’97 episode 3, forcing the infant son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor to be sent into the future to save his life. To that end, it’s revealed that Sinister can control Cable and his own telekinetic powers just as he could Madelyne, resulting in a brutal attack against Jean Grey at episode 9’s end.

2. Magneto Rips Wolverine’s Adamantium From His Body

Straight From Fatal Attractions

While Magneto was busy with Charles Xavier attacking his mind, Wolverine was able to get behind the Master of Magnetism and stab him in the back with his metal claws. Enraged, Magneto declares their feud finished by brutally ripping out the adamantium from Wolverine’s bones. As such, the final shot for X-Men’ 97 episode 9 directly mirrors when Magneto did the very same thing to Wolverine in Fatal Attractions. It’s absolutely horrible and an attack that the comics’ Wolverine barely recovered from.

1. X-Men’ 97 Teases Onslaught

The Dark Merging Of Xavier And Magneto’s Psyches

Following Xavier’s mental attack on Magneto in a presumed attempt to wipe his mind as he did in Fatal Attractions, Magnus places his helmet on Xavier before calling him a traitor to his own kind. To that end, it does seem as though X-Men ’97 may be teasing the debut of the major villain Onslaught, a dark merging of Magneto’s and Xaveir’s darkest psyches into one living monster, having been created in the fallout of Fatal Attractions after Magneto’s mind was wiped.

New episodes of X-Men ’97 release Wednesdays on Disney+